Suction motor for windshield cleaners



March 18 1924. 1,487,405

S. G. SKINNER SUCTION MOTOR FOR WINDSHIELD CLEANERS Filed not. 24. 19212 Sheets-Sheet 1 nlfnta; SZG/J/Z 6/11 6. 51477022 6/" :3 (5 amr/fw March18 1924. 1,487,405

s.G.smNNER SUCTION MOTOR FOR WINDSHIELD CLEANERS .Filed Oct. 24. 1921 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 18, 1924.

outrun STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN esxmnna, or WILMETTE, rumors, assienon, BY MESNE assrenmnn'rs,TO THE FOLBERTH AUTO SPECIALTY COMPANY, or cnavnnm, omo, A conrona TIONOF OHIO.

soc'rron moron ron wrnnsnmnn CLEANERS} Application filed October24,1921. Serial 170. 509,850.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it, known that I, STEPHEN G. SKINNER, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Vilmette, the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a. certain new and useful Improvement in Suction Motors forWVindshi'eldCleaners, of which the following is afull, clear, concise,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a suction motor that i particularly adapted toform part' .of an automotive vehicle wind-shield cleaner. For theoperation of my device I prefer to utilize suction create by theinternal combustion engine of the vehicle with I which the cleaner isassoc'iated--for instance, a the suction created in the intake manifoldofthe engine.

One of the salient features of my present.

invention is the provision of novel means for properly effecting andcontrolling thealternate applications of. suction and atmosphericpressure to the opposite endsor sides of that element of the motor whichis actuated by variations in pressure upon such ends or sides. As adescription of the device of my invention will best be understood whenread in connection with illustrative drawings, I shall proceed at onceto a detailed description of the accompanying drawings, in which Figure1 is a rear elevational view, on reduced scale, illustrating how thecleaner embodying the motor of my invention is ap-' plied to thewind-shield of an automotive vehicle;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken 0 the line 22 of Figure 1; Figure3 is a longitudinal section of the motor taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;-

. motor;

Figure 4 is an isolated view in perspective of the device which controlsthe variations in pressure exerted upon the opposite sides of thereciprocating piston structure of the Figure 5 IS a fragmentary view,partly in vertical section, taken on line '5--5 of Figure 2, it beingthe purpose of this view to illustrate the locatienof the severalpassages in the plate over which the device'of Figure 4 moves in amanner presently to be explained;

Figure 6 is a detail view illustratin how the device of Figure 4, underthelin uence of snap-over mechanism, co-operates with the plate to whichreference has been made in the' preceding description of Figure 5;Figure 7 is an elevational view of the inner face of said plate, thesnap-over mechanism being removed and the passages in said plate beingindicated by dotted lines;

Figure 8 is a, fragmentary sectional view The frame work B is providedwith spaced apertures which receive the? oscillating shaft of thecleaning device and the bolts or sorews vherewith the cylinder structureof the motor of the cleaning device is secured upon the frame work.'- Asuitable arrangement for mounting the cleaning device upon the framework of the wind-shield. is.

illustrated in my Patent No. 1,395,604 dated November 1, 1921, saidpatent having issued on my co-pending application Serial No, 444,718,filed February 14, 1921.

The cylinder structure comprises a cast- I ing-preferably adie'casting-which is conformed to provide the opposed cylinders 10 and11 and the offset portion 12, which is located intermediate thecylinders and which houses the mechanism for alternately con- 4 nectingthe cylinders 10 and 11 with the source of suction. 'The oflset portionof the housing is provided with an opening which is closed b a removableside plate 13,

the details of w ich are most clearly illus trated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7..Plate 13' is held in position by a plurality of screws 14-14. The headsof the cylinders 10 and 11 are preferably in'the form of metal stampings15-15 which are held in position by suitable screws (not shown) whichenga e in the endsof the cylinder structure. aper or other suitablegaskets 17-17 effectively prevent air leakage at the cylinder heads.

inc

The piston structure comprises pistons 18--1 8, which are disposed andadaptedto reciprocate within the cylinder structure.

The pistons 18 are preferably formed in-- tegral with the connectingpiece 19 which .is disposed below the common axis of thepistonsandcylinders. Connectin piece 19 is provided with a longitudinal s 0t 20and a cross pin 21, the purpose of which will presently be made clear.Each piston is provided with a cup leather 22 held in posigear sector26, which is journaled upon a stub shaft 27. Stub shaft 27 threads intothe cylinder casting as indicated at 28. The teeth of the sector 26co-operate with the gear sector 29, which is fixed upon a shaft 30 bymeans of a set screw 31. The set screw and certain other parts of theapparatus, which are presently to be mentioned, are accessible throughan opening 32 in the upper part of the cylinder casting.

.this opening being normally closed by a plate 33. Shaft 30 is journaledin the cylinder casting, projects forwardly from the casting and extendsfreely through an aperture in the wind-shield frame B. The rear iend'ofshaft 30 is preferably provided with a handle 30 by means of which shaft30 may be rocked manually.

At its forward end, the shaft 30 is provided with an aperture whichreceives the upper end of a cleaner arm 35. The cleaner arm ispreferably formed of relatively stifi' wire and is fixed to the shaft 30by set screw 36. Pivoted to the lower end of the cleaner arm is thecleaner device, which consists of the usual rubber squeegee 37 carriedin a suitable frame 38.

From the description thus far it will be understood that when the pistonstructure reciproca-tes within the cylinders, the squeegee 37 will becaused to move across the front face of the wind-shield in the arc of a.circle having the axis of the shaft 30 as its center.

I shall now describe the means whereby the suction of the intakemanifold is utilized to effect the reciprocation of the pistonstructure. upper portion of the cylinder casting is a nlpple 39 overwhich is slipped one end of a rubber tube 40, the other end of saidrubber tube having suitable connection to the source of suction-forinstance, the in- 2 take manifold of the engine. The ni ple 39communicates with the bore 40 whic in The springs tend,

Projecting laterally from the turn communicates with the interior ofneedle valve housing 41, said valve housing being threaded into ahorizontal bore in the cylinder casting, as illustrated in Fig. 8. Theflow of air through the valve housing may be shut off entirely orregulated as desired by needle valve 42. A sprin 42 holds the needlevalve in any desire adjustment. The needle valve housin communicateswith avertical bore 43 in the cylinder structure), the bore 43 in turncommunicating with a horizontal bore 44 (Fig. 8).

how let us refer to the removable side plate 13, the details of whichare illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. This plate is provided with a planeinner surface 45. Formed in the surface 45 are three ports, a, b, and 0.the ports I) and a being located closely adjacent to but on oppositesides of port a. Port a communicates with a curved assage 47. thispassage being illustrated as provided with a brass lining 48. Plate 13is preferably 'die cast and the brass tube or lining 48 is utilized fora purpose which will be apparent to persons familar with die castingoperations. Passage 47 communicates with a horizontal bore 49 whichregisters with the horizontal suction bore 44 Fig. 8) to which I havepreviously alluded. ort c communicates with an upwardly inclined passage50 which, similarly to the passage 47, is provided with a brass liner51. The brass liners 48 and 51 of passages 47 and 50, respectively, areprovided to facilitate the formation of such passages in the die castingoperation. Since such passa es are, curved, these cannot convenientlyformed by removable cores. Neither can they conveniently be formed bydrilling after the die casting operation. ence the brass liners areproperly positioned with respect to the dies prior tothe castingoperation and the metal of which the side plate is formed is cast aroundthe liners so that the passages will be present afterthe die castingoperation has been completed.- The upper end of passage 50 (Fig. 5)communicates with a horizontal bore 52 which reg-,

isters with a horizontal bore 53 in the cylinder structure (Fig. 2).Bore 53 communicates with a longitudina-lbore 54 in the cylinderstructure. said bore 54 in turn communicating wit-h'the interior ofcylinder 11 through a slot or notch 55, said slot or notch being formedin the end of cylinder 11 and extending from bore 54 to the innersurface of said cylinder. The port 0 communicates with the vertical bore56 in plate 13. said vertical bore in turn communicating with thehorizontal bore 57 (Figs. 5 and 7). Bore-.57 is intersected by a secondbore 58 which registers with a bore 59 in the cylinder structure, saidlast-mentioned bore in turn communicating with the longitudinal a thegeneral class to which my invention relates.

In the operation of the i vention, communication 1s. established betweenports a and b when suction is to be created in cylinder v11, ports inthis case being exposed to atmospheric, pressure. When suction is to becreated 1n cylinder 10, communication is established between ports a and0, port I) in'this instance being exposed to atmospheric pressure. I maystate that the space between the pistons is always underatmosphericpressure by reason of leakage under plate 33 and around knownmanner.

shaft 30. However, for clearness, I have illustrated an atmospheric port.33 in plate 33.

I shall now describe the snap-over mechanism and explain how suchmechanism cooperates with the device of Fig. 4 to control the ports a, band 0. Y

The snap-over mechanism comprises a frame 61 having an arm 62 which issecured to the inner surface of'plate 13 by a screw 63 and a pin 64. Theframe 61 is provided with parallel arms 65-65, each of which is providedwith a laterally turned extremity 66. The, portions 6666 are notched attheir-upper and lower edges to receive the slotted ends of the U-shapedmembers 67 and 68. Cross pins 69.69, carried by members 67 and 68, areconnected by a-tension spring 70. The frameis conformed to lie aroundthe free ends of each of the members 67 and '68 to limit the movementthereof. Arm 68 is the slow motion arm and is actuated at the pistonstructure by lugs, to which specific reference will presently be made.Arm 67 is the quick motion arm and is actuated by spring 70 in a well-Projecting laterally from the connecting iece 19 of the piston structureare two lugs 171 which effect the operation of the snap-over mechanismby their co-operation with the slow motion arm 68 thereof.

The parallel portions of the quick motion arm 67 of the snap-overmechanism a'inner surface of plate 13 by a light spring are providedwith two aligned apertures which receive the stem 72 of the suction portcontrolling device, this device beingillustrated in detail in Fig. 4.The controlling device comprises a head 73 which is normally urged intocontact with the plane motor of my in- 74. It will be noted ,thatarecess 75 is formed in theportion of the head whichlies against theplane inner surface of plate 13. This recess is of such size that whenthe quick motion arm 67 of the snapover mechanism is in one of twopositions which it assumes under the influence of spring 70,communication between ports a and b is afforded through said recess, andwhen the said iquick motion arm is in the other position which itassumes under the influence of said spring, communication is establishedbetween ports a and c. Thus, it will be understood, that the said recess7 5 remains in registry with suction port a at all times, its registrywith ports I) or 0 being determined by the position of the member 67 ofthe snap-over mechanism.

It should be noted that the annular face 76 of the suction portcontrolling device (Fig. 4) has a snug sliding fit with the plane innersurface of plate 13, this snug fit being maintained by spring 74. Thusis air leakage between the head 73 and the plate 13 prevented.

I previously alluded to the apertures in the parallel portions of thequick motion arm in which the stem 7 2 of the suction port controllingdevice slides. I would direct attention to the fact that the free end ofthe stem is reduced in diameter, as indicated at 7 2 and hasacomparatively loose fit in the aperture through which it projects. Thisloose fit is clearly illustrated in Figs. 6 and 9. The suction portcontrolling device is, therefore, always 'free'to assume any position,under the influence of spring 74,

wherein the annular face 76- fits snugly against the planeinner surfaceof the plata 6, atmospheric pressure is permitted to exist in cylinder.10, and, similarly, when the snap-over mechanism occupies the positionindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6, atmospheric pressure is permittedto exist in cylinder .11. l

Now let us assume that the piston structure and the parts operatedthereby are in the several positions shown in Figs.i2, 3 and 6, and thataha needle valve 42 has been opened to establish communication betweenthe. intake manifold and the motor of the wind-shield cleaner. In thiscase, suctlon will be applied to cylinder 11 by reason of the fact thatthe recess 75 of the suction nism and moves the same toward the dottedline position indicated in Fig. 6. As soon as the arm 68is moved to sucha position that the axis of spring 70 lies to the left (Fig. 6) of theaxis of the member 67, the said member 67 is snapped to the dotted lineposition illustrated in Fig. 6. When the arm 67 is snapped over, as thusexplained, the recess "75 of the valve port controlling 1 device remainsin registry with port a,

but comes into registry with port a, the

port 7) bein now exposed to atmospheric pressure. uction is, therefore,removed from cylinder 11 and is applied to cylinder 10, atmosphericpressure being permitted to exist in cylinder 11 when suction is appliedto cylinder 10. This operation is repeated at the end of each stroke ofthe piston structure. With the valve 42 open, the cleaner devicecontinues to operate so long as the engine with which it is connected isin operation and is developing sufiicient suction to operate the motorof the cleaning device.

At this time I wish to call attention to the fact that the device (Fig.4) which controls communication between the ports a and the ports I) andc is self-seating. Moreover, by reason of the snug sliding contactbetween said controlling device and the inner surface of plate 13, theseal between these parts improves with use. I find' it desirable to formthe controlling device of steel. The plate 13 is conveniently formed ofone of the wellknown alloys suitable for die casting pur oses.

aving thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A motor of the class described, comprising a housing, a piston,structure adapted to reciprocate therein. said piston structurecomprising a pair of separated but rigidly connected pistons, an openingin said houslng at a point between said pistons, a detachab e platenormally closing said opening, a snap-over mechanism mounted on saidplate .and insertable and removable therewith,

said snap-over mechanism comprising slow and fastmotion arms, and aspring for actu ating the. fast motion arm when the slowmotion armpasses center in moving from one to the other of the extremities of itsmovement, a main suction port in said plate, a pair of secondary suctionports in said plate on opposite sides of the primary suction port, meansfor con'nectin the primary sucthe interior of the housing at oppositeends of the piston structure, a suction ort controlling device carriedby the quic motion arm of the snap-over mechanism, said controllingdevice comprising an end recess which at all times overlies the primarysuction port, and which alternately overlies the secondary suction portsas the aforesaid quick motion arm operates, spring means acting betweenthe quick motion arm and the controlling device, and at all timesholding the recessed end of the latter in sliding engagement with saidplate, and,means on the piston structure for operating the slow motionarm of the sna -over mechanism.

2. In a motor of t e class described, a housing, a movable elementadapted to o crate within the housing, said movable e ement beingoperated by subjecting its op-. posite. sides to different fluidpressures, an opening in said housing, a detachable plate for closingsaid opening, said plate bein provided with a lane inner surface, saiplate being rovided with a primary suction port an two secondary'suctionports, passages in the plate communicating with said ports, a valvecontrolled suction conduit communicating with the primary suction portpassage, conduits registering with the secon ary suction port passagesand terminating within the housing on opposite sides of the movableelement, a suction port controlling device carried by and ada ted toreciprocate relative to the quick motion arm of the snap-over mechanism,spring means normally urging the controlling device into engagement withthe aforesaid plane surface, an a recess in that end of the controllingdevice which engages the plate, said recess at all times overlying theport and adapted alternate secondary suction ports.

rimary- -suction y to overlie the 3. In a motor of the class described,a

housing comprising a portion having a flat surface, a primary and twosecondary suction ports formed in said surface, the secondary suctionports being disposed on opposite sides of the primary suction port, asnap-over mechanism comprising a quick motion armmovable in a planeparallel to said surface, a self-seating port controllin devicereciprocably and rotatably mounte in said quick motion arm, spring meansactingbetween said quick motion arm and the controlling device, andnormally holding the latter firmly in sliding engagement with saidsurface, that end of the controllin device which lies against saidsurface bein provided with a blind recess which at alftnnel I housing, apair of spaced to reciprocate within the ousing, means overlies theprimary suctionport, and which alternately overlies the secondary suction ports. 1

4. In a motor of the class described, a housing comprising a portionhaving a flat metal surface, a primary and two secondary suction portsformed in said surface the secondary. suction ports being disposed onopposite sides of the primary suction port, a snap-over mechanismcomprising a quick motion arm movable in a plane parallel to saidsurface, a self-seating port controllin device reciprocably 'and'rotatably mounteg in said quick motion arm, spring means acting betweensaid quick motion arm and the controllin device andv normally holdingthe latter firm y in sliding engagement with said surface, that end ofthe controlling device which lies against said surface belng providedwith a blind recess bounded by an annular metal surface which bearsagainst the flat metal surface of the aforesaid housing portion, saidblind recess at all times overlying the rimary suction ort andalternately over ying the secon ary suction PQ I 5. In a motor of theclass described, a

istons adapted connecting said pistons, an opening in the housingbetween said pistons, a removable side plate closing said opening, aprimary suction port and two secondary suction ports formed in said'sideplate, means for connecting said secondary suction ports with a sourceof suction, communicating passages in said side platpafid'said housingfor connecting said secondary suction. ports with the interior of thehousing at opposite ends of the piston structure, suction portcontrolling means andsnap-over mechanism therefor both carried by saidside plate and insertable and removable therewith and protuberancescarried by the piston'connecting means, said protuberances being spacedapart and lying on opposite sides of thesnap-over mechanism, but havingno mechanical connection therewith, said protuberances adapted to movesaid snap-over mechanism first in one direction and then in the other asthe pistons reciprocate.

' In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 18 day ofOctober, 1921.

STEPHEN G.'SKINNER,

Witnesses: I

Ann: C. Animus, EDNA V. GUs'rArsoN,

